Newsletter

🏥 Pa.’s first week of medical marijuana

Newsletter for Monday, Feb 26 2018

“The water receded…”

It has been a soggy February in Pittsburgh, to put it mildly. As of this weekend, the Pittsburgh region had broken a February rainfall record that stood for more than a century, TribLive reported. The result of all this moisture has been unmistakable. Landslides have been reported across the city, KDKA notes. Roads have flooded with regularity in places and the city braced this weekend for the worst flooding seen since Hurricane Ivan in 2004. In the end, the flooding was less than expected, but that doesn't mean we're off the hook. Minor flooding was expected this morning, too, as runoff continues to pour into Pittsburgh's rivers from surrounding areas and tributaries. Adding to the potential issues with this morning's commute, thousands of union workers in Pittsburgh were expected to march through Downtown beginning at 8 a.m. in a national coordinated effort coinciding with the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments in a case that could affect union funding, WPXI reports.

Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program officially started sales and the dispensing of medication more than a week ago. But that doesn't mean it's a finished product. In our look back at the week in medical marijuana that was, we examine what went right and what went wrong in the first week of sales. We also look ahead, speaking to experts and state officials about what's next for the program, from a possible expansion of available products to include smokable and edible forms of the drug, to the addition of more dispensaries and growers and the involvement of academic and research institutions like the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine.

Contract talks will resume this week between the union representing Pittsburgh Public Schools teachers and the city's Board of Public Education, the Post-Gazette reports. This after the teachers approved a labor strike as an option earlier this month following a lengthy period of inconclusive contract talks between the two sides. Talks have continue since then to no avail. Meanwhile, all of West Virginia's public school teachers are currently on strike in a protest over their pay and benefits. That strike is affecting more than 277,000 students, Vox.com reports. In Pittsburgh, both the teachers union and district officials say they're hoping to avoid a similar outcome here. A strike in Pittsburgh public schools would mark the first here since 1975 and would impact some 25,000 students.

Featured Event

For its monthly Bring Your Own Bard event, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is taking on "The Merchant of Venice." Seasoned actors and newbies are invited to bring along a reading from the play or pick one up at the event.

The Incline Likes

Stop us if you've heard this one before: The potholes in Pittsburgh are terrible this year. And while we're stating the obvious here, it's also worth noting that they're bad for everyone — that means motorists and cyclists. Cycling advocates say there are a few things motorists should keep in mind when encountering cyclists on city roads, namely that potholes may force cyclists to ride in a less predictable manner. Cyclists should also be prepared for motorists forced to navigate these potholes as well. The common thread in all this is that we all have to share the road — and we're all in this pothole mess together.

A bald eagle nest in Harmar Township has a new addition — an egg laid Saturday evening, marking the the first of the year there, according to KDKA. The egg follows the arrival of three at another eagle's nest in Hays earlier this month. And in the year the Philadelphia Eagles earned their first Super Bowl win, these eagles remain required viewing as well, with two nest cams monitoring the progress. The Hays chicks should hatch a little more than a month from now.